From:
julie_fossa@yahoo.com
Date: 2001-11-02 11:27:00 UTC
Subject: excessive bruising and bleeding during surgery
I've researched the archives, and haven't really found an answer to
my concern.
Bandit: Male, neutered and descented, Ruby Farms (from Pet store)
origin. Bandit, my personal ferret since a very small kit, will be 4
years old in December.
Average weight about 2.5 pounds. Has been a bit thin over the
summer, going back to their cage and curling up long before the
others. I've noticed a coat thinning over his hips and base of his
tail, and just figured he was developing adrenal symptoms. I also
noticed a small flat red spot on his skin about the size of the head
of a pin. (left hip)
I took Bandit in for adrenal surgery today. He had gained
some 'fall' weight, and I wanted to get his surgery while he was
doing well.
As we looked him over, we noticed numerous red blotches over his
body, chest and tail. (more noticable after he was shaved.)
As soon as the incision was made, there was noticably more bleeding
from the skin layer than normal.
My vet noticed that everywhere he touched Bandit's insides, he would
bruise. The incision was also bleeding more, as time passed.
Since Bandit has been housed with ADV positives in the past, we
quickly checked him with a POCT. He was still negative, but since I
swabbed rather quickly, it is possible that I did not get a
sufficient sample; but Bandit has historically tested negative. I am
going to swab and re-test by sending another sample out to Avecon.
We decided to close Bandit, and not chance excessive internal
bleeding. Even with a pressure bandage, Bandit developed a large (1
inch by 2 inch) raised, pocket of blood beneath the skin beside the
suture line.
Blood was drawn; the values are listed below. A raised, nickle size
pouch of blood formed beneath the skin near where the blood was
drawn, despite pressure being applied. I will FAX original, if
requested.
Hematology: WBC: (-) 2.06m/mm3 Lym.: (+) 74.7%
Mon.: 6.8% Gra.: (-) 18.5% Lym#: 1.56m/mm3
Mon#: 0.14m/mm3 Gra#: 0.36 m/mm3
RBC: 8.0M/mm3 MCV: (-) 50.3 fl Hct: 40.2%
MCH: (-) 12.3pg MCHC: (-) 24.6 g/dl RDW: 8.6
Hb: (-) 9.9 g/dl
PLT: 231 m/mm3 MPV: 8.0 fl Pct: 0.18%
PDW: 9.9
VETSCAN values:
ALB 2.0 G/DL ALP 38 U/L ALT 78 U/L AMY 25 U/L
TBIL 0.2 MG/DL BUN 35 MG/DL CA++ 8.4 MG/DL Chol 134MG/DL
CRE 0.5 MG/DL GLU 216 MG/DL K+ 4.9 MMO/L TP 5.6 G/DL
GLOB 3.5 G/DL
Blood as been sent out to a lab to do a white blood cell count, and
to have a pathologist check his white blood cells, if I remember what
my vet told me, accurately.
Bandit had been beginning to exhibit the characteristic behavior of
running to the litterbox with no results, so I had been watching
him. I also checked his urine twice with the multistix. The only
elevated value was the bilirubin, which was 'off the scale'.
I am wondering if anyone has any thoughts as to what might be the
cause of the easily bruising, and excessive bleeding, and what we
might want to do to help him. Any thoughts are appreciated.
Thank YOu,
Julie